Bifunctional Paramagnetic and Luminescent Clays Obtained by Incorporation of Gd(3+) and Eu(3+) Ions in the Saponite Framework

[Image: see text] A novel bifunctional saponite clay incorporating gadolinium (Gd(3+)) and europium (Eu(3+)) in the inorganic framework was prepared by one-pot hydrothermal synthesis. The material exhibited interesting luminescent and paramagnetic features derived from the co-presence of the lanthanide ions in equivalent structural positions. Relaxometry and photoluminescence spectroscopy shed light on the chemical environment surrounding the metal sites, the emission properties of Eu(3+), and the dynamics of interactions between Gd(3+) and the inner-sphere water placed in the saponite gallery. The optical and paramagnetic properties of this solid make it an attractive nanoplatform for bimodal diagnostic applications.